Improvement in flood-gates



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E. NOBLE, OF LA MOTTE, IOWA.

Letters Patent No. 101,65l, latell April 5, 1870.

The Schedule referredto in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, A. E. NOBLE, of La Motte, in the StateV of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement iu Flood-Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon making apart of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the gate tipped back out of the water and held by the hooks; and

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section, showing the latchand bed-post.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and' use my invention, I now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Similar letters in the drawings refer to like parts. l

This invention consists in providing a gate intended for the spanning of creeks, ponds, Ste., when crossed by lines offence, with a swinging foot-latch of peculiar form, pivoted in the lower part of the gate, and abutting at low water against a post placed in the hed of the stream, and thus keeping the gate closed until the water vrises in the stream suiiciently to lift the latch and leave the gate free to ride upon the flood. Also, in providing hooks pivoted upon the gate-posts for the purpose offasteniug the gate, in winter, up clear of ice.

In the drawings- A is a wooden gatesuspended upon au iron rod, a,

stretched between two posts, B B, set at the sides of the stream.

The rod a allows the gate to turn upon it with but little friction.

The point in the gate at which it is fastened to the rod is just above high-water mark, so as to keep the rod clear of drift-wood, and still leave weight enough in the gate above its pivot to alloivof its being easily swung by the water.

'lwo bars, b 7)', cross the gate horizontally, one at the top and the other just clear of high-water mark, so as to keep it also free from driftwood.

'To the central upright slat c ofthe gate, and at the lower end ofthe same, is hinged a latch, al, of rool form, with a'sharp angle at its ridge, and sloping sides to prevent dirt from lodging on it.

`The free end of the latch catches at low water against -a post, C', set in the bed of the stream, and thus keeps the gate upright.

W'hen the water rises the latch rises with it, and thus liberates the gate.

To insure against the freezing of the gate in ice, at the approach of winter, it may be thrown back far enough to raise its lower end out of the water, and fastened in that position by hooks e e, pivoted one to each of the posts B.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ist- 1. The gate A, in combination with the posts B and hooks e, arranged and operating substantially as described.

2. The gate A, in combination with the swinging foot-latch d, the latter having a sharp edge and sloping sides, and with the post C, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

A. E. NOBLE.

Witnesses:

HENRY Fnos'r. A Z. W. MoN'rAGUE. 

